As a haircare professional, I’m constantly asked why shampoo and conditioner seems to stop functioning after a few weeks or months. The questions I always get is, “Can my shampoo and conditioner ever really stop doing its job?” But then one day you woke up and your hair was suddenly flat, dull, dry, and prone to breakage. What was going on?! Was your shampoo partner ghosting? So you change up your shampoo and conditioner to see if you can find a new magic tonic. You try a few different brands and nothing really changes, so you settle for something that kind of makes your hair feel good. After all, the stuff you loved so much at first has obviously become ineffective, so this new product must be better than nothing, right? But here’s the thing: What “works” doesn’t stop benefiting your hair if it truly worked in the first place. Here, the major culprits. See, silicones make it impossible for your strands to absorb proper moisture later (like in the shower or when you apply a hydrating cream). Just like your body, when adequate moisture isn’t available, your hair becomes dehydrated and, coupled with the buildup of proteins, minerals, and other ingredients—well, snap! The hair that once looked so lush and shiny starts to break. But it’s also healthy to consider not only how everything works or doesn’t, but also how it can affect your body, animals, marine life, and the planet. In addition to being water insoluble, silicones aren’t biodegradable, which means they wash down your drain and into the water supply, oceans, lakes, and rivers. Not to mention, this can throw your scalp out of whack and you may begin to produce more sebum that you did in the first place. This happens for the same reason it may on the face: When your skin thinks it’s dry, it goes into oil overdrive. Well-formulated, natural shampoos and conditioners work differently from synthetic chemical formulations (and are better for the planet). Natural ingredients are gentle and intelligent. Pure, clean, skillfully formulated products don’t rely on synthetic chemical softening and absorption. They work in natural alignment with the body; it’s a “bio-match.” Plant oils and essences have distinct molecular similarities to the oils of the body, allowing them to work together naturally, and whole plants have an incredible ability to adapt to the body’s needs at any specific time.
